Tuesday, July 8, 2014

08/07/2014: High levels of HCBs in fishmeal reported in Norway

Norway’s Food Safety Authority (NFSA) has found high levels of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in fishmeal from one Peruvian supplier, which is used by the feed producers Skretting, Ewos and Biomar for farmed fish in Norway.

There is no reason to assume that the environmental pollutant has any impact on food safety, said NFSA.

The authority said it is following up with fish feed producers to shed light on the situation and ensure that adequate measures are being taken, said Ole Fjetland, assistant supervisory director at NFSA.

The high HCB levels were found in some of fishmeals used by Skretting, the fish feed arm of Nutreco. Although the meal is used for feed, analysis of the feed showed that the HCB levels were below the accepted limit.

Feed producers Ewos and Biomar also source from the same Peruvian producer, said
Norway's Food Safety Authority (NFSA), and samples from their meal also showed levels above the limit, although the levels in the feed was here again below the limit.

The producers informed NFSA they have introduced extraordinary measures to avoid the use of products with high HCB levels.

The reason for the HCB’s presence has not been established, but the feed producers are in contact with the fishmeal producer to find out the source.

Fjetland said no higher levels of HCB has been found in finished products such as salmon fillets. 

“From what we know today, there is no reason to think this has any significance for food safety,” he said. 

“Out of precaution, we will take samples from fish that have eaten the feed where this meal has been used.” 


The Aquaculturists
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